Canada already employs one of the world’s most sophisticated accounting systems for natural capital. In 2013 it estimated the value of our marketable natural resource assets at $750 billion. With this initiative, Smart Prosperity Institute seeks to further refine our understanding of the economic value of nature, to advance the economic tools and policies to protect it, and to better build the environment into economic measures of success.

Related Projects:

Project

Natural Capital & Productivity

Exploring how economic activity & the environment are linked by valuing nature and putting a price on ecosystem services.

Project

Natural Assets Initiative

Giving municipalities the tools they need to identify and account for natural assets.

Project

Species at Risk

Actionable guidance and recommendations for how governments and other stakeholders can unlock policy tools and incentives to improve species at risk recovery work in Canada.

Earth Day 2021: Why Investments in Nature are Critical in these Uncertain Times

More than ever, there is a widespread recognition that a healthy natural world is essential in supporting vibrant communities and economies.

Blog Post

Canada’s Role in the Global Biodiversity Challenge

People, organizations, and governments are recognizing that when it comes to biodiversity loss the question is no longer whether we can afford to change, but whether we can afford not to.

Blog Post

We Need to Invest in Biodiversity – for Nature, Society and the Economy

Safeguarding biodiversity is a critical ingredient to a sustainable future.

Blog Post

The Benefits of Protecting 30% of the Land and Sea By 2030

New evidence shows that the nature conservation sector drives economic growth and is a net contributor to a resilient global economy.

Blog Post

We still need 2020 to be the year of nature, perhaps more than ever

Instead of bouncing back, let’s bounce forward to a future in which we value and invest in the environment, benefitting nature and people.

Report

The nature of health: integrating health considerations in urban nature-based solutions

The Nature of Health aims to provide a better understanding of the emerging nexus between urban nature, human health, and climate change.

Report

Invest in Nature: Scaling Conservation Finance in Canada for a Nature-Smart Economy

This report explores implementation pathways, success factors, and identifies key barriers and opportunities to grow the market for nature investment in Canada

Report

Extending the Funding Canopy

A guidebook on estimating the economic value of nature-based solutions

event

The Nature of Health: Integrating health considerations into nature-based urban planning

This webinar highlighted findings and discuss implications of SPI’s new report, The Nature of Health: Integrating health considerations into nature-based urban planning, published by SPI in October 2021.

Policy Brief

Protecting Northern Peatlands: A vital cost-effective approach to curbing Canada’s climate impact

Protecting and maintaining northern peatlands, which are huge stores and important sinks for carbon, is essential to meeting national and global climate targets.

Policy Brief

Wetlands can be Infrastructure too

This case study on wetlands explores the value of urban natural infrastructure within the context of climate change and other economic, environmental, and societal objectives.

Policy Brief

Growing Forests in a City

This case study on urban forests explores the value of urban natural infrastructure within the context of climate change and other economic, environmental, and societal objectives.

Policy Brief

Can Green Roofs Help Cities Respond to Climate Change?

This case study on green roofs explores the value of urban natural infrastructure within the context of climate change and other economic, environmental and societal objectives.

event

Money doesn’t grow on trees: The complexity of how we value nature

Through a diversity of perspectives, our conversation explored the nuance and complexity of assigning economic value to nature.

Report

The nature of health: integrating health considerations in urban nature-based solutions

The Nature of Health aims to provide a better understanding of the emerging nexus between urban nature, human health, and climate change.

event

Invest in Nature

A virtual fireside chat about nature-based solutions, conservation finance, and biodiversity protection

Blog Post

Economic metrics should serve nature-based solutions – not the other way around

Nature-based solutions practitioners should feel confident that they can use economic metrics in a way that doesn’t compromise or distract from their main focus: protecting ecosystems and the people who live in them.

Blog Post

Climate Proofing Canada - The case for scaling up nature investments for climate adaptation

The climate is changing and Canadian communities are bearing the costs. To ensure these communities have the opportunity to thrive, taking a proactive approach to adaptation is necessary while we continue to advance mitigation strategies.

Blog Post

Scaling conservation finance in Canada: The need for collaborative action to deliver for nature and the economy

Despite the range of potential benefits to a broad set of stakeholders, conservation finance has been slow to emerge in Canada. In understanding why, we seek to provide pathways to overcome barriers and catalyze growth.

Blog Post

Green is the new grey

Natural infrastructure provides big value with multiple climate, environmental and social benefits

Blog Post

Plans may have changed, but expect lots of action on nature in 2021

Smart Prosperity is deeply involved in national conversations related to conservation finance, and several research efforts will be emerging in this key moment for nature.

Valuing and Protecting Nature

Related

Related Projects:

Natural Capital & Productivity

Natural Assets Initiative

Species at Risk

Related Content:

Earth Day 2021: Why Investments in Nature are Critical in these Uncertain Times

Canada’s Role in the Global Biodiversity Challenge

We Need to Invest in Biodiversity – for Nature, Society and the Economy

The Benefits of Protecting 30% of the Land and Sea By 2030

We still need 2020 to be the year of nature, perhaps more than ever

The nature of health: integrating health considerations in urban nature-based solutions

Invest in Nature: Scaling Conservation Finance in Canada for a Nature-Smart Economy

Extending the Funding Canopy

The Nature of Health: Integrating health considerations into nature-based urban planning

Protecting Northern Peatlands: A vital cost-effective approach to curbing Canada’s climate impact

Wetlands can be Infrastructure too

Growing Forests in a City

Can Green Roofs Help Cities Respond to Climate Change?

Money doesn’t grow on trees: The complexity of how we value nature

The nature of health: integrating health considerations in urban nature-based solutions

Invest in Nature

Economic metrics should serve nature-based solutions – not the other way around

Climate Proofing Canada - The case for scaling up nature investments for climate adaptation

Scaling conservation finance in Canada: The need for collaborative action to deliver for nature and the economy

Green is the new grey

Plans may have changed, but expect lots of action on nature in 2021